Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson will treat Lance Franklin as "just another opponent" as the Hawks begin plotting the defeat of the Sydney Swans - and their former superstar Franklin - at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.

Having crunched an overwhelmed St Kilda by a record 145-point margin on Saturday, the Hawks now turn their attention to the man who stunned club officials last year by leaving for the riches on offer with the Swans.

Franklin did not play against Brisbane on Saturday night because of a bruised knee, but the Swans are hopeful he will line up against his former side for the first time.

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That Franklin left in October for a multimillion-dollar offer from a Sydney-based club was expected. That it was not to Greater Western Sydney but rather the Swans, and accompanied by a stunning nine-year, $10 million deal, will ensure the spotlight is firmly on this blockbuster clash.

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Clarkson was quick to point out his team, which will be without an injured Sam Mitchell (hamstring) and almost certainly Brian Lake (calf), will face a stern test against the Swans.

"We were strong in all facets of the game today, so we were really pleased with that, but we know full well it's not going to be that easy next Friday night," Clarkson said. "It's not often you turn up and get a day like that today. But we know we have got Sydney next Friday night up at ANZ and that is going to be a tough assignment for us."

While there will be a week of hype, Clarkson said he would treat Franklin, the champion forward who was integral in two Hawthorn premierships, as if he was simply "another opponent".

"We are not even sure if Buddy will play. If he does, he is just another opponent we have to come up against. We know him pretty well. They have got 21 others that we have to worry about. He will just be wearing a red-and-white jumper. We are looking forward to that contest.

"They are a really good side. They have started the season a little bit slower, but they are starting to hit their straps a little bit now ... it will be on for young and old, I am sure."

Clarkson said Mitchell, hurt in the first term, would definitely miss this week, while Lake, who could have expected to have spent considerable time on Franklin, is in doubt with "a niggle in a calf". Lake had only recently returned from a calf complaint.

The Hawks had a staggering 149 more disposals than the Saints and boasted 11 goalkickers, with Jarryd Roughead, Luke Breust and Ryan Schoenmakers each contributing four in what was Jordan Lewis' 200th match.

Schoenmakers, in his first senior game in a year since having a knee reconstruction, was swung into defence after booting his bag. Clarkson spoke on Friday about Schoenmakers' value as a swing man, and that was reinforced when Lake was hurt.

The Hawks led by four goals at quarter-time before reinforcing why they have every chance of securing back-to-back flags. They booted 21 goals to two in the final three quarters, including 10 in the third term alone, to claim their biggest-ever win over the Saints, besting the 129-point margin at Moorabbin in 1983.

It was also their fifth-highest win in club history, and the Saints' fifth-highest losing margin.

Compounding the defeat for the Saints was a ruptured elbow ligament for the consistent Jarryn Geary, leaving him sidelined for up to 12 weeks, while it emerged ruckman Tom Hickey was discovered through the week to have had soreness in his foot and will be out for up to 10 weeks.

The Saints managed only 25 inside 50s, equalling a record league low, with coach Alan Richardson admitting the rain-swept afternoon had been nothing short of an "absolute belting".

"Collectively and as individuals, we got an absolute belting today. There is no hiding from that. We will learn from that," he said.

"To come up against the reigning premiers in that form and to play and fail dismally with respect to pressure - our ability to not apply it, and our ability to not cope with it - that will be where our focus lies.

"They smashed us with their use of the footy compared to our's, but that won't be an area we will focus on. It will be about pressure and our inability to apply enough pressure. It has been a focus all pre-season."